Greetings All!
I hope you're all having a good weekend! This evening I have swatches I did ages ago (November, I believe), and then promptly lost. They turned up in a folder of Halloween nail art!
I love glow in the dark polish, after all, what's not to love? However until fairly recently I haven't been able to take pictures of polish glowing in the dark. I still can't take good pictures, as they're rather blurry, but they do at least definitely show that glowy magic. I've made a very high tech darkroom, which involves putting a poncho over my head!
I bought these three polishes from Rainbow Connection (which is currently closed for the next couple of weeks!! Nooo!), I'm not 100% sure on their availability as only some are still on the Polish Addict site. I have developed a terrible habit of posting about polishes that are hard to find or sold out lately, so for that I apologise!
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Friday, 10 January 2014
UK Indies - Indy's Indies Winter Polishes
Greetings All!
I still have a lot of Winter polishes in the vault. I'd better press through them, or it'll be Spring before I'm done!
Indy's Indies, in my opinion, had the best Winter/Christmas polishes this year. Imaginative, varied, and all very cute! Some of them are quite seasonal, but others can be worn all year round. Plus many of these polishes are still available, in the sale section! So there's a chance to grab a bargain.
This post is picture heavy, so I'll jump straight in!
I still have a lot of Winter polishes in the vault. I'd better press through them, or it'll be Spring before I'm done!
Indy's Indies, in my opinion, had the best Winter/Christmas polishes this year. Imaginative, varied, and all very cute! Some of them are quite seasonal, but others can be worn all year round. Plus many of these polishes are still available, in the sale section! So there's a chance to grab a bargain.
This post is picture heavy, so I'll jump straight in!
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
British Nail Bloggers - Top And Base Coats
Greetings All!
This week the British Nail Bloggers are discussing our favourite top and base coats. It's an interesting topic for me, because I'm always looking for the next best thing to use! I also have my favourites pretty well worked out. I use several different products, depending on the circumstances, so this is quite an easy post for me!
Covering The Bases
Gelous. It's brilliant. I found out about this from Enigmatic Rambles last Spring, and it's my most used 'proper' base coat (more on that later!). It stays quite thick when it dries, so if I'm not wearing polish I usually pop 2 coats of this on, and my nails feel well-protected from knocks and breaks. It doesn't have strengthening properties in itself, but it does make my nails stronger when it's on, and it's also pretty good at smoothing out imperfections on my nails.
OPI Nail Envy. My personal preference is the Matte version. I tend to use this for a couple of weeks if my nails start breaking - I'm not sure if it does really strengthen my nails or not, but it certainly doesn't seem to do them any harm. I don't use it all the time, as it can make my nails a bit brittle, but it does stay in the main rotation. The matte finish also makes it a great base coat - polish seems to 'grip' onto it very well.
So those are my 'proper' base coats, for 'proper' manicures. However I also spend a fair bit of time swatching, trying polishes on, and sometimes I do challenge nails that don't stay on very long! In those cases I don't really want to 'waste' my good base coats, so I have a collection of polishes, mostly Sally Hansen, that I get from market stalls or Fragrance Direct. They're usually about £2 each, they have all kinds of strenghtening claims that I don't believe but again, can't hurt, and they suit my purposes very well! This one pictured is actually a mix of five or six base coats - once they get near the bottom and hard to reach, I tend to mix them all together (with some thinner), and if there's no smoke or bubbling, I assume they're fine to use on my nails! Again, they aren't for extended wear.
Topping It Off
Seche Vite. How predictable! There is a reason that it's so popular, and that is because it rocks! I use this all the time (I've had to invest in the big bottles!), for plain polish and nail art. I especially like it for nail art, because it has this wonderful smoothing, sealing in effect, especially if the art is freehand and a little bumpy! If I could only have one top coat, it would be this one.
Color Club. This was initially just the clear polish that came with the CC sets, and was left to one side! However once I read that people were using it, and that it was good, I gave it a try and I'm very glad I did! I think of it as a slightly weaker SV - a little thinner, and thinner on the nail, but very fast drying. I usually use this as a top coat over stamping, as it doesn't smudge, and you don't need a thick coat to smooth out any bumps. I also use it as a top coat over plain polish, if I plan to put something else on top - glitter in a clear base, for example.
Huh? Gelous again?! Yes. I use this in a 'top coat system' when I'm wearing glitter, especially my beloved shaped glitter. Because it's quite thick when dry, it gives a great smoothing layer over bumpy glitters. It does not dry quickly at all, however, so I do need a fast drying top coat on top (usually SV).
From the same makers, In A Hurry. This is terrible for nail art, it smudges horrendously, but for plain polish, or as a barrier coat, this stuff dries in seconds. Honestly the fastest drying top coat I've ever used. This bottle is nearly finished, and I haven't decided if I'll replace it or not, but I felt it was still worth mentioning, because yikes. Super fast drying.
Finally, George at Asda Matte top coat. I do enjoy a matte finish, and this is just about the only one I use, for nail art, plain polish, and hiding the fact that I have 2 coats of Gelous on at work! It only comes in a tiny bottle (5ml), and it does get a bit thick towards the end, but like my SH base coats I tend to mix them together with a bit of thinner, to try and use the whole bottle. I wait until these are on offer in Asda (£1 instead of £1.75), then stock up! I don't think I'll ever run out!
So those are my favourites. I do have various other bits and pieces that I've used in the past, but these are the polishes that I keep coming back to.
Now check out what everyone else uses!
This week the British Nail Bloggers are discussing our favourite top and base coats. It's an interesting topic for me, because I'm always looking for the next best thing to use! I also have my favourites pretty well worked out. I use several different products, depending on the circumstances, so this is quite an easy post for me!
Covering The Bases
Gelous. It's brilliant. I found out about this from Enigmatic Rambles last Spring, and it's my most used 'proper' base coat (more on that later!). It stays quite thick when it dries, so if I'm not wearing polish I usually pop 2 coats of this on, and my nails feel well-protected from knocks and breaks. It doesn't have strengthening properties in itself, but it does make my nails stronger when it's on, and it's also pretty good at smoothing out imperfections on my nails.
OPI Nail Envy. My personal preference is the Matte version. I tend to use this for a couple of weeks if my nails start breaking - I'm not sure if it does really strengthen my nails or not, but it certainly doesn't seem to do them any harm. I don't use it all the time, as it can make my nails a bit brittle, but it does stay in the main rotation. The matte finish also makes it a great base coat - polish seems to 'grip' onto it very well.
So those are my 'proper' base coats, for 'proper' manicures. However I also spend a fair bit of time swatching, trying polishes on, and sometimes I do challenge nails that don't stay on very long! In those cases I don't really want to 'waste' my good base coats, so I have a collection of polishes, mostly Sally Hansen, that I get from market stalls or Fragrance Direct. They're usually about £2 each, they have all kinds of strenghtening claims that I don't believe but again, can't hurt, and they suit my purposes very well! This one pictured is actually a mix of five or six base coats - once they get near the bottom and hard to reach, I tend to mix them all together (with some thinner), and if there's no smoke or bubbling, I assume they're fine to use on my nails! Again, they aren't for extended wear.
Topping It Off
Seche Vite. How predictable! There is a reason that it's so popular, and that is because it rocks! I use this all the time (I've had to invest in the big bottles!), for plain polish and nail art. I especially like it for nail art, because it has this wonderful smoothing, sealing in effect, especially if the art is freehand and a little bumpy! If I could only have one top coat, it would be this one.
Color Club. This was initially just the clear polish that came with the CC sets, and was left to one side! However once I read that people were using it, and that it was good, I gave it a try and I'm very glad I did! I think of it as a slightly weaker SV - a little thinner, and thinner on the nail, but very fast drying. I usually use this as a top coat over stamping, as it doesn't smudge, and you don't need a thick coat to smooth out any bumps. I also use it as a top coat over plain polish, if I plan to put something else on top - glitter in a clear base, for example.
Huh? Gelous again?! Yes. I use this in a 'top coat system' when I'm wearing glitter, especially my beloved shaped glitter. Because it's quite thick when dry, it gives a great smoothing layer over bumpy glitters. It does not dry quickly at all, however, so I do need a fast drying top coat on top (usually SV).
From the same makers, In A Hurry. This is terrible for nail art, it smudges horrendously, but for plain polish, or as a barrier coat, this stuff dries in seconds. Honestly the fastest drying top coat I've ever used. This bottle is nearly finished, and I haven't decided if I'll replace it or not, but I felt it was still worth mentioning, because yikes. Super fast drying.
Finally, George at Asda Matte top coat. I do enjoy a matte finish, and this is just about the only one I use, for nail art, plain polish, and hiding the fact that I have 2 coats of Gelous on at work! It only comes in a tiny bottle (5ml), and it does get a bit thick towards the end, but like my SH base coats I tend to mix them together with a bit of thinner, to try and use the whole bottle. I wait until these are on offer in Asda (£1 instead of £1.75), then stock up! I don't think I'll ever run out!
So those are my favourites. I do have various other bits and pieces that I've used in the past, but these are the polishes that I keep coming back to.
Now check out what everyone else uses!
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Getting My Nude On
Greetings All!
I'm taking time out from clearing out the vault, to bring you a bang up to date, on my nails right now manicure!
I've been wearing a lot of nude polish lately. My nails are stained, uneven, and shorter than I'd like, but it's been really nice and cleansing to hide them but still have them looking natural and subtle. Plus it makes a great background to add a bit of glitter!
My favourite at the moment is OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons, the latest in a long line of nearly-but-not-quite-mannequin-hands polishes that I keep rotating through. I've been wearing it 2 or 3 days a week! Today I felt like adding a bit of stamping.
It took me forever to find the right kind of stamp, as I had a specific style in mind. Somehow I still don't have enough stamping plates! This one is from Cheeky Jumbo Plate 8, Princess Charming. The little flowers/leaves are meant to be solid, but I quite like them like this, as they look more delicate. I always think nude and black looks better matte, so of course that had to happen.
Sometimes I forget that a simple manicure can be just as effective as a more complicated one!
I'm taking time out from clearing out the vault, to bring you a bang up to date, on my nails right now manicure!
I've been wearing a lot of nude polish lately. My nails are stained, uneven, and shorter than I'd like, but it's been really nice and cleansing to hide them but still have them looking natural and subtle. Plus it makes a great background to add a bit of glitter!
My favourite at the moment is OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons, the latest in a long line of nearly-but-not-quite-mannequin-hands polishes that I keep rotating through. I've been wearing it 2 or 3 days a week! Today I felt like adding a bit of stamping.
It took me forever to find the right kind of stamp, as I had a specific style in mind. Somehow I still don't have enough stamping plates! This one is from Cheeky Jumbo Plate 8, Princess Charming. The little flowers/leaves are meant to be solid, but I quite like them like this, as they look more delicate. I always think nude and black looks better matte, so of course that had to happen.
Sometimes I forget that a simple manicure can be just as effective as a more complicated one!
Saturday, 4 January 2014
UK Indies - Iconic Effect Winter Polishes
Greetings All!
The clearing of the vault continues, today with some Wintry polishes from Iconic Effect. These are definitely 'Winter' and not 'Christmas', so it's fine to post them in January!
First is Longest Night, which has thankfully been and gone. While I am more of a night person, sometimes in Winter it feels like you can blink and miss the daylight! Plus I hate having to get up when it's still dark - it shouldn't be allowed!
This is 2 coats of Longest Night over black.
I love the teeny flecks of iridescence, and it's rather fitting for the name of the polish, but the glitter bunny in me wants more sparkle. The glitter looks good in these pictures, but from arm's length it did look a bit like just black polish, and I need more glitter than that! It's a very nice subtle polish though. I'm just not known for my subtlety!
The Big Freeze, 2 coats over white.
Cold, glittery and gorgeous! This is a brilliant Winter polish. It reminds me a little of DDP Blueberries a la Mode, but with blue instead of purple. It's cool and it's fresh, and very easy to wear because the blue adds a lot of colour to the pale base, so I think you could get away with this one even if you don't like a white based polish.
You can buy Iconic Effect polishes here.
The clearing of the vault continues, today with some Wintry polishes from Iconic Effect. These are definitely 'Winter' and not 'Christmas', so it's fine to post them in January!
First is Longest Night, which has thankfully been and gone. While I am more of a night person, sometimes in Winter it feels like you can blink and miss the daylight! Plus I hate having to get up when it's still dark - it shouldn't be allowed!
This is 2 coats of Longest Night over black.
I love the teeny flecks of iridescence, and it's rather fitting for the name of the polish, but the glitter bunny in me wants more sparkle. The glitter looks good in these pictures, but from arm's length it did look a bit like just black polish, and I need more glitter than that! It's a very nice subtle polish though. I'm just not known for my subtlety!
The Big Freeze, 2 coats over white.
Cold, glittery and gorgeous! This is a brilliant Winter polish. It reminds me a little of DDP Blueberries a la Mode, but with blue instead of purple. It's cool and it's fresh, and very easy to wear because the blue adds a lot of colour to the pale base, so I think you could get away with this one even if you don't like a white based polish.
You can buy Iconic Effect polishes here.
Friday, 3 January 2014
UK Indies - Luv Polish Swatches
Greetings All!
As I didn't blog much in December, I have a bit of a backlog of Christmas polishes that I swatched but never got around to posting. I've decided I've pretty much missed the deadline for them, but anything that I can describe as a Winter polish still has a shot! Our UK indie polish makers did us proud this Winter, with a huge variety of colours - not just red, green and gold.
These polishes are from new indie polish maker Luv Polish. They looked so cute, I couldn't resist.
First up is Snowfall, 2 coats over Essie Waltz.
There are winter white hexes, which do get a little lost, but I love the small black glitter. It reminds me of dragonfruit, and I think it's adorable. Good enough to eat all year round!
Next up are three polishes sold as a Christmas Trio, although they are also available separately. Tilette, 2 coats over black.
Classic holo glitter in a black base combo. You can put pretty much any glitter in a black base, and I am going to like it, although this one is a little sheer, and definitely needs undies. Again, it isn't a Christmassy looking polish, which I think is a good thing!
All Is Gold, 2 coats over Barry M Gelly in Watermelon.
Gold glitter, with a sprinkle of holo. I don't actually own many plain gold glitter toppers - they usually have other colours thrown in the mix, so this is a welcome addition to my collection. It has a lovely golden sparkle, with little hints of colour from the holo
Last up is Fusion, 3 coats solo.
I haven't made up my mind about this one. It's certainly unique in my collection. The base and red glitter are quite hot and Summery, and the iridescent hexes add a coldness...but I can't decide if I like it or not!
Application etc was very good, no issues to report! They are a little on the sheer side, but indies and undies go well together (that's why they're such similar words...right?!), I'm just lazy sometimes!
You can buy Luv Polish here.
As I didn't blog much in December, I have a bit of a backlog of Christmas polishes that I swatched but never got around to posting. I've decided I've pretty much missed the deadline for them, but anything that I can describe as a Winter polish still has a shot! Our UK indie polish makers did us proud this Winter, with a huge variety of colours - not just red, green and gold.
These polishes are from new indie polish maker Luv Polish. They looked so cute, I couldn't resist.
First up is Snowfall, 2 coats over Essie Waltz.
There are winter white hexes, which do get a little lost, but I love the small black glitter. It reminds me of dragonfruit, and I think it's adorable. Good enough to eat all year round!
Next up are three polishes sold as a Christmas Trio, although they are also available separately. Tilette, 2 coats over black.
Classic holo glitter in a black base combo. You can put pretty much any glitter in a black base, and I am going to like it, although this one is a little sheer, and definitely needs undies. Again, it isn't a Christmassy looking polish, which I think is a good thing!
All Is Gold, 2 coats over Barry M Gelly in Watermelon.
Gold glitter, with a sprinkle of holo. I don't actually own many plain gold glitter toppers - they usually have other colours thrown in the mix, so this is a welcome addition to my collection. It has a lovely golden sparkle, with little hints of colour from the holo
Last up is Fusion, 3 coats solo.
I haven't made up my mind about this one. It's certainly unique in my collection. The base and red glitter are quite hot and Summery, and the iridescent hexes add a coldness...but I can't decide if I like it or not!
Application etc was very good, no issues to report! They are a little on the sheer side, but indies and undies go well together (that's why they're such similar words...right?!), I'm just lazy sometimes!
You can buy Luv Polish here.
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
SpecialGirl Nails Is One Today!
Greetings All! Happy New Year!
I find it quite hard to believe I started blogging one year ago today. In some ways I feel like I've been doing it forever, and in other ways I still feel like a complete beginner! There will be a giveaway to celebrate, as soon as I can work up the nerve (I stressed way too much during my last one, for no good reason). This is the only New Years resolution I have ever kept, although I don't usually make them. I haven't made one this year!
I decided to recreate the first manicure I ever posted for today. Partly because I loved it so much at the time, partly because I haven't used that stamp since, and partly because I have no idea how I pulled it off in the first place! You may recognise it from my banner picture (which desperately needs an update!).
The stamp in question is BM20. Bundle Monster have recently re-released their first collection in a larger size, as they were ridiculously tiny. Looking at the stamp, I had no idea how I managed, as a beginner, to fit them on my nails! I struggled today, and my stamping skills have improved...could my nails have gotten wider?!
Here is today's effort.
Somehow I did it again! Actually, the stamp fit on my index, ring and pinkie fingers fairly easily, especially with my squishy stamper. The middle finger and thumb were much harder, as they are the widest nails. I managed to stretch my stamper a bit, making the image slightly wider (and slightly distorted!) but fitting it all on. Here's a reminder of last year's.
Not a huge amount of difference, which is a little depressing actually! The image is crisper this year, but again that's thanks to my squishy stamper. How I did this, as a beginner, with a tiny image and the 'normal' rubber stamper, will forever remain a mystery. If I had used a normal stamper, it wouldn't have come out as good as this!! I will definitely be investing in the larger set come payday though. I'd forgotten what pretty images are in there, as I usually just skip by the whole first series!
Have you made any resolutions this year?
I find it quite hard to believe I started blogging one year ago today. In some ways I feel like I've been doing it forever, and in other ways I still feel like a complete beginner! There will be a giveaway to celebrate, as soon as I can work up the nerve (I stressed way too much during my last one, for no good reason). This is the only New Years resolution I have ever kept, although I don't usually make them. I haven't made one this year!
I decided to recreate the first manicure I ever posted for today. Partly because I loved it so much at the time, partly because I haven't used that stamp since, and partly because I have no idea how I pulled it off in the first place! You may recognise it from my banner picture (which desperately needs an update!).
The stamp in question is BM20. Bundle Monster have recently re-released their first collection in a larger size, as they were ridiculously tiny. Looking at the stamp, I had no idea how I managed, as a beginner, to fit them on my nails! I struggled today, and my stamping skills have improved...could my nails have gotten wider?!
Here is today's effort.
Somehow I did it again! Actually, the stamp fit on my index, ring and pinkie fingers fairly easily, especially with my squishy stamper. The middle finger and thumb were much harder, as they are the widest nails. I managed to stretch my stamper a bit, making the image slightly wider (and slightly distorted!) but fitting it all on. Here's a reminder of last year's.
Not a huge amount of difference, which is a little depressing actually! The image is crisper this year, but again that's thanks to my squishy stamper. How I did this, as a beginner, with a tiny image and the 'normal' rubber stamper, will forever remain a mystery. If I had used a normal stamper, it wouldn't have come out as good as this!! I will definitely be investing in the larger set come payday though. I'd forgotten what pretty images are in there, as I usually just skip by the whole first series!
Have you made any resolutions this year?
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
My Highlights Of 2013
Greetings All!
A slightly different kind of post today. I don't have any New Years nails for you (I have to go to work in the morning, so I haven't bothered), but I've seen quite a few posts where people look back over the last year, and I thought that might be fun. For me, anyway!
This time last year, I didn't even have a blog. Tomorrow is my first blogiversary, and I think it's the first New Years Resolution I've ever kept! I wasn't sure if I would keep it up, or whether I'd get bored after a few weeks. I wasn't even sure if nail art was going to be a fad for me! However one year on, and I'm even more obsessed than I was a year ago, which I guess is a good thing. I still get a lot of joy from polish!
Untrieds have been a big theme for me in 2013. I just buy so much polish, I don't have enough time or fingers to wear them all! When I first started to get obsessed with polish and nail art, I would buy it willy-nilly. I have gotten better (for the most part), and I've even been known to not buy a polish because I have similar shades (not the same, similar). However, if you put me in front of a sale or some bargains, I will still go a little crazy from time to time.
Because I keep polishes in my Helmers, my untrieds are sitting out visible until they have been tried, and this is why they've been a bit of a cloud over my head this year. They're constantly there, looking at me, sad because they don't get used, and taking up valuable room! Fortunately I worked really hard in December, and I finished swatching all my mainstream polishes! I'm hoping that next year this will free me to polish what I like, rather than feeling obligated to try something new.
As wonderful and beautiful mainstream polishes are, for me 2013 has very much been the year of the indie polish. This time last year I didn't own any, and I remember thinking people were a bit ridiculous for getting so obsessed over the things, and that they were all nail hipsters! I've built up a nice little collection since then, including several 'lemmings', and I can confirm that yes, they are very addictive, beautiful, and necessary!
Dwarfing my indie collection is my UK indie collection, which is something I've definitely become a major fanatic over! I remember in April when Tara launched her first collection, and since then the scene has exploded into something that easily rivals their international counterparts. You can get all the fancy finishes - thermals, holos, multichromes, as well as all those charming glitter toppers and sandwiches that I can never resist. I'm constantly amazed by their creativity and the polishes that they are able to produce! Plus they have this wonderful little community of polish makers and fans, who were kind/daft enough to vote me UK Indie Polish Blogger Of The Year 2013 a couple of weeks ago. This my chance to again thank everyone who voted, and to pledge my intentions to live up to the title! I'm predicting that next year UK indie polish is going to get even bigger, and I hope to be there, bringing you swatches of them and convincing you that you need them!
The UK indie polish community is a really lovely group of women, but I was a little bit surprised to learn that everyone in the nail polish community is lovely! OK, that sounds a bit...odd, but I honestly wasn't expecting everyone in the nail polish/ blogging community to be SO nice, kind, supportive, patient and generous, even when I was a total newbie and had no idea what I was doing! Everyone is happy to help each other, and there is very little evidence of cliques or bitchiness (I don't want to offend anyone, but speaking as a woman, sometimes we can be bitches! I am most of the time). I was expecting a small percentage to be a little snobby, or trolly, but I haven't located them yet! They're a wonderful group of people, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of them!
So those were my highlights/main points that I've taken away from blogging in 2013. I really hope I can write another post like this at the end of 2014! I wanted to end with a brief list of some of my favourite things from this year.
A slightly different kind of post today. I don't have any New Years nails for you (I have to go to work in the morning, so I haven't bothered), but I've seen quite a few posts where people look back over the last year, and I thought that might be fun. For me, anyway!
This time last year, I didn't even have a blog. Tomorrow is my first blogiversary, and I think it's the first New Years Resolution I've ever kept! I wasn't sure if I would keep it up, or whether I'd get bored after a few weeks. I wasn't even sure if nail art was going to be a fad for me! However one year on, and I'm even more obsessed than I was a year ago, which I guess is a good thing. I still get a lot of joy from polish!
Untrieds have been a big theme for me in 2013. I just buy so much polish, I don't have enough time or fingers to wear them all! When I first started to get obsessed with polish and nail art, I would buy it willy-nilly. I have gotten better (for the most part), and I've even been known to not buy a polish because I have similar shades (not the same, similar). However, if you put me in front of a sale or some bargains, I will still go a little crazy from time to time.
Because I keep polishes in my Helmers, my untrieds are sitting out visible until they have been tried, and this is why they've been a bit of a cloud over my head this year. They're constantly there, looking at me, sad because they don't get used, and taking up valuable room! Fortunately I worked really hard in December, and I finished swatching all my mainstream polishes! I'm hoping that next year this will free me to polish what I like, rather than feeling obligated to try something new.
As wonderful and beautiful mainstream polishes are, for me 2013 has very much been the year of the indie polish. This time last year I didn't own any, and I remember thinking people were a bit ridiculous for getting so obsessed over the things, and that they were all nail hipsters! I've built up a nice little collection since then, including several 'lemmings', and I can confirm that yes, they are very addictive, beautiful, and necessary!
Dwarfing my indie collection is my UK indie collection, which is something I've definitely become a major fanatic over! I remember in April when Tara launched her first collection, and since then the scene has exploded into something that easily rivals their international counterparts. You can get all the fancy finishes - thermals, holos, multichromes, as well as all those charming glitter toppers and sandwiches that I can never resist. I'm constantly amazed by their creativity and the polishes that they are able to produce! Plus they have this wonderful little community of polish makers and fans, who were kind/daft enough to vote me UK Indie Polish Blogger Of The Year 2013 a couple of weeks ago. This my chance to again thank everyone who voted, and to pledge my intentions to live up to the title! I'm predicting that next year UK indie polish is going to get even bigger, and I hope to be there, bringing you swatches of them and convincing you that you need them!
The UK indie polish community is a really lovely group of women, but I was a little bit surprised to learn that everyone in the nail polish community is lovely! OK, that sounds a bit...odd, but I honestly wasn't expecting everyone in the nail polish/ blogging community to be SO nice, kind, supportive, patient and generous, even when I was a total newbie and had no idea what I was doing! Everyone is happy to help each other, and there is very little evidence of cliques or bitchiness (I don't want to offend anyone, but speaking as a woman, sometimes we can be bitches! I am most of the time). I was expecting a small percentage to be a little snobby, or trolly, but I haven't located them yet! They're a wonderful group of people, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of them!
So those were my highlights/main points that I've taken away from blogging in 2013. I really hope I can write another post like this at the end of 2014! I wanted to end with a brief list of some of my favourite things from this year.
- Shaped glitter - some love it, some hate it. I absolutely love it! It's the child in me that squeals with delight at the thought of having stars and moons on my nails. If they take some extra topcoat...worth it! Fingers crossed the shapes get even more exciting in 2014 (I'm still hoping for bat glitter!).
- Gelous - my favourite basecoat, discovered this year. I started my 5th bottle just before Christmas - I really go through the stuff! I love it for work because it makes me nails feel super strong after 2 coats. It's also great as a thick topcoat over shaped glitter.
- Thermal polish - what an idea! Polish that can produce a gradient on your nails all by itself?! Genius. I only have a few, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the next must have!
- My XL Squishy Stamper - my best stamping discovery of the year, more so than any plate or polish. It's definitely taken my stamping up a level, and I never want to go back to the old style stampers!
- Glitter-in-a-white-base polishes - I LOVE glitter in a white/pale base, especially if it's matte glitter. There's just something so...clean, and pure about it.
There are many other things I've loved in the last year, but I have to end it soon or this will end up being a VERY long post. It probably would have been easier if I listed the things I didn't like this year!
If you stayed with me through all that text, thank you, and well done! I hope you all have a lovely New Year, and I'll be back in 2014!
Sunday, 29 December 2013
Prepare To Get Sick Of The Sight Of This...
Greetings All!
I'm making an effort to get back into blogging regularly. I wasn't away for long, but it was surprisingly easy to get out of the habit!
While I took a break, I was still busy with polish. I've now swatched all my mainstream polishes - no more untrieds!!! I still have untried indies, but they don't really count (I need something new and pretty waiting to be worn, or I'll just buy more! The pile does help me whittle down my shopping baskets though). I did just realise I have a few Color Club sets looking at me from the corner - oops! Still, it feels good to not have a big tray of polish sitting there.
I've also been practicing my next 'technique I want to master', the vertical gradient. I first tried them here for the 33DC (on some rather talonesque nails that I am still missing dearly!), and what I've basically done here is an exact recreation! I desperately want these to look like they do in my head, and red and black just seem to be the best colours to use!
It's an improvement - still not perfect, but better than last time! I should really try some other colours though...
I'm making an effort to get back into blogging regularly. I wasn't away for long, but it was surprisingly easy to get out of the habit!
While I took a break, I was still busy with polish. I've now swatched all my mainstream polishes - no more untrieds!!! I still have untried indies, but they don't really count (I need something new and pretty waiting to be worn, or I'll just buy more! The pile does help me whittle down my shopping baskets though). I did just realise I have a few Color Club sets looking at me from the corner - oops! Still, it feels good to not have a big tray of polish sitting there.
I've also been practicing my next 'technique I want to master', the vertical gradient. I first tried them here for the 33DC (on some rather talonesque nails that I am still missing dearly!), and what I've basically done here is an exact recreation! I desperately want these to look like they do in my head, and red and black just seem to be the best colours to use!
It's an improvement - still not perfect, but better than last time! I should really try some other colours though...
Saturday, 28 December 2013
Mariah Pure 18K White Gold & Silver Topcoat
Greetings All!
Yesterday I showed you my best Christmas present, OPI MWTGG. I was also fortunate enough to receive this white gold version!
This is 2 coats of Pure over OPI Keeping Suzi At Bay (I keep choosing OPI to wear with them!).
This one has a lot more leaf in it than MWTGG, and you could easily get away with one coat. It does give a really lovely effect, although I prefer the gold version slightly. How lucky am I that I have both?!
Yesterday I showed you my best Christmas present, OPI MWTGG. I was also fortunate enough to receive this white gold version!
This is 2 coats of Pure over OPI Keeping Suzi At Bay (I keep choosing OPI to wear with them!).
This one has a lot more leaf in it than MWTGG, and you could easily get away with one coat. It does give a really lovely effect, although I prefer the gold version slightly. How lucky am I that I have both?!
Friday, 27 December 2013
My Boxing Day Nails
Greetings All!
These were the nails I wore yesterday, using my favourite Christmas present, OPI Man With The Golden Gun. I actually briefly owned this last year when I bought a job lot of OPI polishes, but unbelievably, I didn't think I needed it!! I was very wrong, and I regretted my decision, so I asked for it for Christmas this year (I also got the Mariah Carey white gold/silver version!).
Here it is in spectacular golden glory, over OPI Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow.
I'm so annoyed at myself for selling this on over a year ago! I didn't know how much I loved gold polish back then - it came as a surprise to me! I'll have to get a lot of use out of this one now, to make up for it.
These were the nails I wore yesterday, using my favourite Christmas present, OPI Man With The Golden Gun. I actually briefly owned this last year when I bought a job lot of OPI polishes, but unbelievably, I didn't think I needed it!! I was very wrong, and I regretted my decision, so I asked for it for Christmas this year (I also got the Mariah Carey white gold/silver version!).
Here it is in spectacular golden glory, over OPI Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow.
I'm so annoyed at myself for selling this on over a year ago! I didn't know how much I loved gold polish back then - it came as a surprise to me! I'll have to get a lot of use out of this one now, to make up for it.
My Christmas Day Nails
Greetings All!
Remember me? Ha it's been ages! I hope you've all had a pleasant festive period! I haven't really felt much like blogging (or polishing!) lately (and once you see the state of my nails, you'll get a clue why!), but I though I would share my Christmas nails with you. If I'm being honest, I'm quite glad all the xmas nails are disappearing! I don't mind Wintry themed nails, but I get bored of Christmas nails very easily.
In that theme, these are probably more 'Winter' than Christmas themed, but that kind of proves my point!
As a little Christmas present to myself, I made a blue holo using Revlon Royal and some Spectraflair. I've been hankering after a bright blue holo, and although it's got a bit lost under everything else, it rocks. Trust me. I added Pocket Money Polishes White Christmas and Angels for the white glitter, and stamped with BM323 and Color Club Angel Kiss.
Remember me? Ha it's been ages! I hope you've all had a pleasant festive period! I haven't really felt much like blogging (or polishing!) lately (and once you see the state of my nails, you'll get a clue why!), but I though I would share my Christmas nails with you. If I'm being honest, I'm quite glad all the xmas nails are disappearing! I don't mind Wintry themed nails, but I get bored of Christmas nails very easily.
In that theme, these are probably more 'Winter' than Christmas themed, but that kind of proves my point!
As a little Christmas present to myself, I made a blue holo using Revlon Royal and some Spectraflair. I've been hankering after a bright blue holo, and although it's got a bit lost under everything else, it rocks. Trust me. I added Pocket Money Polishes White Christmas and Angels for the white glitter, and stamped with BM323 and Color Club Angel Kiss.
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